International students trip the light fantastic

International students from “Team Indonesia” perform during the 2015 International Night in the Center for Meeting and Learning Banquet Hall at Lane’s Downtown Campus on Friday, May 15.Photo: Justin Cox

International students from “Team Indonesia” perform during the 2015 International Night in the Center for Meeting and Learning Banquet Hall at Lane’s Downtown Campus on Friday, May 15.Photo: Justin Cox

The room was sold out. Every seat was filled and people lined the walls to join in the celebration. Friday, May 15, Lane’s International Student Association featured performances, a fashion show and cuisine. International Night was a hit. Lane student Daniel Game said, “It was an excellent event!”
Hosted at the Lane Downtown Campus Center for Meeting and Learning, the event was a blend of culture and style. Everything from modern dance and instrumentals to traditional chanting and poetry were presented by students from more than 15 countries.
Sat Bhajan Kaur, who led the Hula Kahiko performed by Asian & Pacific Islander Student Union, said that the event’s purpose was to raise awareness and understanding of cultural differences. “We celebrate together in sharing our common humanity,” she said.
Costumes ranged from the simple to elaborate, containing vivid and striking colors from across the spectrum. The fashion show emblazoned the varied and beautiful contemporary and traditional dress of 13 countries — from Mexico to Saudi Arabia.
The event kicked off with Korean students dancing to “Gangnam Style” by Psy. Most of the audience clapped and danced along. The energy remained palpable until the end. People lined up afterward for plates full of satays, sushi, tacos and a wide sampling of other foods from around the globe.
Family and friends of Lane students also attended. “I was surprised to see so many countries and cultures represented,” said UO student Shawn Ohki. “I was impressed by the diverse group of people.”
This was the first time that the event has been held indoors. There were some technical issues with lighting and sound that needed to be addressed. Beth Schenderlein, who runs the International Student Program, said that the room was designed for lectures, not music, and that the sound would be better if the event were hosted at the Performing Arts Center.
The turnout was much higher than expected. “We were only expecting 150 people, but there were almost 300 people at the event last night,” Arunima Bhattacharjee student worker for International Programs and former Torch reporter, said.
“Everyone put a lot of effort in making this event a success, some of them have been practicing for months.” Bhattacharjee said. Proceeds from the event went towards the International Student Emergency Fund.

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